News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1887-01-13
A TALE OF ANCIENT ROME.
Which Might Have Happened in this Coun-
try Many Years Age.
TFrom lid Bits.1

From lid Bits.l
"Good-day, Servius. suppose shall
see thee at the temple tonight"
AT what temple, noble Lucious =
asked the young Roman, gazing inquir
ingly into the face of his companion, al
J aged and graybearded veteran of many
wars.
"How now, boy!" exclaimed the ole
man ''Hast thou not heard of the frui
and floral festival under the charge O.
the Ladies' Aid Society at the Temple
of the Feretrian Jupiter on the Capito
line?n
The youth shuddered
81 had forgotten, good Lucius," hi
said. Zone of the priests had received
a call elsewhere, and this festival is fo
the purpose of raising funds to increase
his meagre salary, and thereby induce
him to remain Am 1 mot right!"
Yes, thou art, O Selvius."
81 shall not be there. | attended one
entertainment of this sort some time ago
l had six scrupuli in my possession
| when l went IN, but when | departed
had not so much as a sestertius."
NAY, nay, my boy" interpOsed the
| old man, ''this parsimOny becomes thee
not. 1t costs but one denarius to enter
''But what does it cost to get out2
modify muttered the youth.
"In the temple" continued LUcius,
thou wilt find a large and attractive as
sortment of fancy goods and toilet arti-
Giles at prices far below their market val
ne, for they have been donated by various
tradesmen and artifcers."
''But is it not taking an unfair adj
vantage of these same tradesmen and
artifcers," said the young man, "to sell
their goods at prices less than their
value?'
Thou art too scrupulous," said Lu-
cius, angrily. ''But by Jupiter l will
persuade thee yet. Know then that the
fair Tullia will have charge of table
Ha! thou changest color, boym
''Listen, my Lucius, cried the youth,
''and thou shalt know my secret. 1t is
my purpose to espouse the maiden whom
thou has named. 1t therefore behooveth
me to guard well the goods which the
gods have bestowed upon me. Were l
to visit the fair l should be despoiled of
all, and my hope of wedding Tullil put
forever to fight"
''Nay, Servius, thou wrongest them,
and by the gods will prove it to thee,
if thou wilt but go with me to the
temple. Why, boy, a golden Tyre of the
most exquisite workmanship and worth
a hundred scrupuli is to be drawn for,
and the tickets are but a sestertius each.
Who knows but the gods will bestow
this treasure upon theel"
Enough, O Lucius," said the youth.
81 will visit the fair, but l shall remain
only a short time"
''Thou hast decided wisely, Servius.
And now l must away; I'll see thee
later"
That evening young Servius donned
his dress toga and pair of red sandals,
and fastened to the temple of the Fer
etrian Jupiter. With his pleasurable
anticipations was mingled a vague pre-
sentiment of evil, which he found it i'm
possible to Danish. He was warmly
welcomed by all, including the fair Tul-
liza, who, when the first greetings had
been exchanged, said:
''Servius, you see yonder statue of
Minerva; it is to be given to the priest
who receives the largest number of votes.
How many shall I put you down for?"
Five" replied the youth, with a
sinking heart. What is the cost?"
Ten sestertii each"
The youth handed her treble scru-
pulum and waited for his change. When
he got tired of waiting he walked mood
lily away. and was Immediately captured
by noble Roman matron, who did not
release him until she had sold him an
embroidered toga three sizes too small
for him, and various other more or less
useful articles And so it went, until at
last Servius spent all his ready money,
and gave notes for what he had at home
But one hope sustained him: he might
draw the golden Tyre, which he could
sell for hundred scrupuH His ticket
was numbered CIVIL, and he fancied
that it had lucky look.
Finally the hour of the drawing ar
rived. The tickets were all placed in
helmet, and the infant child of Lucius
thrust in her hand and took one out.
''No. CIVIL" announced the priest
Young Servius has drawn the prize"
Servius' melancholy was now changed to
JOY; but while he was indulging in man
ifestations of glee he was approached by
Tullia, who said:
Thou knowest, I suppose, Servius,
that it has been generally expected that
drew the Tyre would donate it
Immediately to the temple. 1t would be
very bad form not 10 do so''
'Take it, then" exclaimed Servius,
as, with a gesture of despair, he rushed
from the temple.
A few minutes later he was found ly-
ing dead just outside the door. He had
fallen upon his own sword, and had
persisted instantly. The next week his
goods were sold to discharge his in
debtedness to the Ladies' Aid Socie Y.